Mariner Personal Safety (MPS)

Near Miss Statistics

Safety Moment

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Near Miss Database

 Currently 45,298 Near Miss Reports in the database

 Analyses completed on the Near Miss data set:
 Cause of Near Miss
 Vessel Type
 Location of Near Miss
 Category/Type of Near Miss
– PPE Near Miss Reports
– Equipment Near Miss Reports
– Access Near Miss Reports
– Safety Equipment Near Miss Reports

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Definition of a Near Miss

 An unsafe or hazardous condition exists

 The unsafe condition is in proximity to an activity that is underway
or about to commence
 The hazard is identified and precautions or corrective actions are
taken before the condition leads to an accident
 ABS defines a near miss as an event where no contact or
exchange of energy occurred and thus did not result in personal
injury

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Sample Near-misses: PPE Not Used

1. While cleaning filters with chemicals, a crew member did not use
the safety goggles as required by the PPE chart
2. Duty Engineer found in Engine Room at his evening round in
slippers
3. A person was noticed working from a portable ladder which was
unsecured without a safety harness. They were using one hand
to hold on to a pipe nearby while the other hand was using a
portable electric grinder. As the person was asked to come
down, they weren't wearing any safety goggles while using the
electric grinder

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Cause of Near Miss

 71% of all Near Miss Incidents have the cause listed as “People”
Near Miss Cause 

4% 2%

20%

ENVIRONMENT / WEATHER

3% EQUIPMENT
ORGANIZATION
PEOPLE
UNSPECIFIED/OTHER

71%

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Vessel Type

 Over 50% of Near Misses occurred on Container (34%) and

Tanker Vessels (27%)

Near Miss: Vessel Type
4% 5%
7%

10% Tug
PCC
34%
BULKER
N/A/Other
13%
TANKER
Container
Smaller Categories

27%

“Smaller categories” include: ATB Tug/Barge, Line boat, ATB, Ship, Barge/barge deck, LNG, General cargo, and LPG

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Location of Near Miss

 37% of all Near Misses occurred on the Deck

Near Miss Locations INTERIOR SPACE

ACCOMMODATION OTHER
2% 3%
14% 4%
CARGO AREA
5%

6% WHEEL HOUSE AND BRIDGE DECKS

GALLEY
9%
OTHER + Unspecified

37% ENGINE ROOM

20%
DECK

Smaller Categories

“Smaller Categories” include: Medical, Electric Shop, Bathroom, smoking area, meeting/recreational, Gym/pool,
bunker tank, garbage space, ballast tank general, pump room, crew cabin, ashore, storage space, gangway,
laundry room, lifeboat, & workshop

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Category of Near Miss (Low Detail)

 The most common types of Near Misses in the database are:

Struck by/Against, Cut, Crushed, Strain/Sprain and PPE
STRUCK BY / AGAINST / CUT / CRUSHED / STRAIN / SPRAIN 5522

PPE 5320

EQUIPMENT 5132

SLIP/TRIP/FALL 4887

FIRE / FIRE HAZARD
Near Miss Categories

4871

SPILL/LEAK/RELEASE 3783

NAVIGATION, MOORING, AND LINE 3481

OTHER 3455

ACCESS 3271

HOUSEKEEPING 2938

ELECTRICAL 1481

SAFETY EQUIPMENT 1173

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000

Number of Near Miss Reports

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PPE Related Near Miss Reports

 In a random sample of 200 records from PPE reports, almost 90%

of PPE Near Miss Reports were because of PPE not being used

Near Miss ‐ PPE 

1%
6%
4%

 PPE MISSING
 PPE CONDITION
 PPE INCORRECLTY USED

89%  PPE NOT USED

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Equipment Related Near Miss Reports

 8,979 records in near miss database are attributed to “Equipment”

 This category is broken down in the chart below

Type of Near Miss Low Detail ‐ Equipment 

 SLIP/TRIP/FALL

8%  FIRE / FIRE HAZARD
23% 10%

10%  STRUCK BY / AGAINST / CUT /
CRUSHED / STRAIN / SPRAIN
 NAVIGATION, MOORING, AND LINE
21% 11%
 SPILL/LEAK/RELEASE
17%
 EQUIPMENT

Other (All of above)

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Access Related Near Miss Reports

 3.721 “Access” related Near Miss Reports

OPEN DOOR
OBSTRUCTED EXIT
Categories within "Access" for Near MIss Reports

SECURITY
OPEN HATCH/MANHOLE
VENTILATION
PERSON IN UNSAFE AREA
ENCLOSED SPACE PROCEDURES NOT FOLLOWED
RAILING /ACCCESS
UNFENCED OPENING
LACK OF PERMIT
UNAUTHORISED USE OF EQUIPMENT
WORKING ALOFT WITHOUT PERMISSION
SHORE LEAVE
UNLOCKED DOOR
RESTRICTED ASSESS

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800

Number of Near Miss Reports

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Safety Equipment Related Near Miss Reports

 1173 Near Miss Reports related to “Safety Equipment”

 73% of the Safety Equipment Reports are related to Lifeboat
Issues

LIFEBOAT ISSUE 5%

SAFETY DEVICE
MISSING
22%

SAFETY DEVICE NOT
WORKING 73%

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